Grading apparatus



y 20, 1952 c. 1.. KEY 2,597,108

GRADING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l I. (fl b M Claude L. Key

Fig.2. 7 By 2 I oz y 20, 1.952 c. KEY 2,597,108

GRADING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3.-

Fig. 9.

Inventor Claude L. Key

I08 WW 8m May 20, 1952 c, KEY 2,597,108

GRADING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 20, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' Fig. 4.

Inventor alaud L. Key

May 20, 1952 c. L. KEY

GRADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 20, 1946 Inventor Claude Key Fig. 7.

. Patented May 2%, 1252 FQE This invention relates to a method and apparatus for grading food products such as peas, beans, and the like and is an improvement over my copending application, Serial No. 622,505, filed October 16, 1945, patented May v29, 1951, No. 2,254,495.

The primary object of the invention is to separate peas, beans, and like products according to their specific gravities.

Another object is to separate from such products waste material which is generally of a lighter nature than the products to be used.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies, among its features, introducing into a liquid bath having a predetermined specific gravity a stream of the bath liquid containing the solids to be separated, extracting the lighter solids together with bath liquid from the top of the liquid bath, extracting the heavier solids together with bath liquid from the bottom of the liquid bath and separating the solids from the bath liquid with which they were extracted.

Other features include recovering the bath liquid so extracted from the liquid bath and reusing it in the process.

Other features include a settling tank adapted to remain completely filled with a bath liquid having a predetermined composition and specific gravity, a conical bottom closing the lower end .3

of the tank, a conical cap closing the upper end of the tank, an axially disposed feed tube entering the tank through the cap and terminating substantially midway between the upper and lower ends of the tank, a discharge tube for the lighter solids adjacent the apex of the top of the tank, a discharge tube for the heavier solids extending axially through the feed tube and terminating near the apex of the bottom of the tank, means connected to the feed tube and to the discharge tubes to maintain a circulation of bath liquid through the tank and means to introduce solids to be separated into the tank through the feed tube.

. Other'features include means to separate the solids from the fluids passing through the respective discharge tubes and means within the tank to reduce its volumetric capacity without interferring with the proper separation of the solids.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a separating system embodying the features of this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1,

. inga furthermodification of the deflector,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the deflector illustrated in Figure 5, and V Figure 9 is a schematic view illustrating the flow circuits of the system.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the frame and drive mechanism of my improved separator is designated generally 15 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel channel members It tied together by cross bars I! at opposite ends to form a base. Rising from the ends of the channel members IE5 at one end of the base are standards I8 which are tied together at their upper ends by a cross bar I9, intermediate the ends of which is supported an upwardly extending column 20, the purpose of which will more fully hereinafter appear. Extending transversely intermediate the upper and lower ends of the standards I8 is a cross bar 2|, and extending downwardly and forward ly along each side of the main frame from the upper ends of the standards l8 to a point substantially midway between opposite ends of the channels l6 are diagonal brace bars 22.

Rising from the channels I6, intermediate their ends and in spaced relation to the standards l8, are standards 23 connected at their upper ends by side bars 24 and a cross bar 25 which lies in a plane slightly below the horizontal plane of the cross bar [9. Extending upwardly from the side bars 24 intermediate their ends are standards or columns 25, the upper ends of which are joined by a horizontally disposed cross bar 21 which lies in a plane slightly below the upper end of the column 20. Extending transversely between the pair of standards 23 adjacent the standards l8 at a point'somewhat below the cross bar 25 is a cross bar 28 which lies in a horizontal plane near, but slightly below the horizontal plane of the cross bar 2!. Extending upwardlyfrom the ends of the channels I5 opposite those carrying the standards l8 are legs 29 which are connected to the standards 23 remote from the standards I8 by cross braces 30.

Mounted for rotation in bearings'3l and 32, respectively carried bythe column 25 and the cross bar,:, 2?, is a drive shaft 33 carrying, at the end nals 4| and 42 carried by the cross bar 25 previously referred to. A drive shaft 43 is mounted to rotate in the journals 39 and 4|, and a similar drive shaft 44 is mounted to rotate in the journals 40 and 42. drive shafts 43 and 54 tilt downwardly toward their ends opposite the journals 39 and 49 in spaced parallel relation. A drive sprocket 45 is attached to the shaft 43 near the end adjacent the journal 39, and a similar drive sprocket 46 is fixed to the shaft 44 near the end adjacent the journal 49. Trained over the drive sprockets 34, 38, 45, and 46 is a drive chain'4'l which has driving connection with a drive sprocket 48 carried by the drive shaft of a prime mover 49, such as an electric motor, which is mounted on a platform 56 carried by the frame l5 near the journal bearing 39. It will thus be seen that when the prime mover 49 is set into motion, the shafts 33, 35, 43 and 44 will be rotated in unison.

Carried by the ends of the drive shafts 33, 35, 43 and 44 are foraminous drums 5!,52, 53 and 54, respectively. Each of these drums comprises a circular cylindrical side wall formed of foraminous material, an end closure 55 and an open end 56. The end closure of each drum 55 is provided with a collar 51 for connection to its respective drive shaft, and the drums tilt downwardly in axial alignment with the axes of their respective shafts from their closed ends.

Mounted in the frame l5 directly below the drum 5i is a substantially V-shaped trough 58 having a transversely extending partition wall 59 over which the open end 56 of the drum 5| extends, so that material deposited in the drum which fails to pass throughthe foraminous wall thereof will be discharged through the open end 56 into a compartment 60 separated from the trough 58 by the partition wall 59. As illustrated in Figure l, the compartment 66 extends below the level of the bottom of the trough 53 and has connected thereto a feed pipe SI for the flotation solution, as will be more fully hereinafter described. Extending from the end of the compartment 69 opposite that into which the pipe 6| opens is a feed hopper 62 provided with a bottom discharge opening 63 (Fig. 2). A flow pipe 64 leads from a suitable source of supply to create a flow of water containing the solids to be separated and has its discharge end connected through the'medium of an elbow 65 to a discharge nipple 66 located within the drum 5|, with the discharge end thereof terminating in spaced Like the drive shafts 33 and 35, the

relation to the rear wall 55 thereof. It will thus be seen that solids introduced into the drum 5! with a stream of water entering through the pipe 55 will be separated by the foraminous wall 58 of the drum from the liquid, with the latter falling into the trough 58, while the solids are discharged from the open end 55 of the drum 5! into the trough 63.

Supported-onthe side bars 24 and extendin beneath both drums 53 and 54 is a V-shaped 4 trough 6'! which, like the trough 58, is provided near one end with a partition wall 65 (Fig. 4). A longitudinally extending partition wall 69 separates the end of the trough 61 divided from the main portion of the trough by the partition wall 68 into two separate compartments l3 and H, into which the solids discharged by the drums 54 and 57 are respectively received. A drain opening i2 is formed in the bottom of the trough 61 near the partition wall 65, and leading from the compartments #6 and 'l l, respectively, are discharge spouts 12 and 13, respectively (Fig. 3).

A liquid discharge pipe 14 is connected to the discharge opening 12 and is provided, at its lower end, with an elbow 15, to which a discharge nipple T6 is coupled. This discharge nipple enters the drum 52' and terminates near the rear wall 55 thereof, as will be readily understood upon reference to Figural.

Supported in the frame l5 directly below the drum 52 is a recovery receptacle or catch basin 1'! and extending along the end of the catch basin adjacent the open end 56 of the drum 16 is a waste trough 18, into which the open end of the drum l6 discharges. A drain pipe l9 leads from the trough 58, and its discharge end opens into the waste trough 18 so that the water separated from the solids introduced through the pipe.64 may be utilized to flush away waste received in the waste trough 18.

Leading from the bottom of the recovery tank H is a pipe which, in turn, is connected to the intake end of a fluid pump 8|, to the drive shaft of which is connected a drive pulley 82 through which power may be transmitted to the pump from any suitable source; The discharge end 83 of the pump 8| is connected to the pipe 6| at the end opposite that entering the compartment 60 of the trough 58, so that fluid may be extracted from the recovery tank and discharged into the compartment 66 and feed hopper 62 in a continuous stream.

Communicating with the opening 63 in the bottom of the feed trough 62'is the inlet tube 84 of a settling tank designated generally 65. This tank comprises a circular, cylindrical body 86, opposite ends of which are provided with substantially conical heads 8'! and 89, respectively. The upper convergent end of the head 81 is provided with an upwardly extending, flanged collar 89, to which is connected, as by bolts 99, a cap 9|, the main body portion of which is cylindrical in form, and the upper end of the cap is closed by an inclined end wall or cover 92 formed with an axial opening 93 through which the inlet pipe 84 enters the settling tank. Leading from the side wall of the cap 9! adjacent its highest point is a discharge tube 95 which projects laterally and is provided with a discharge nipple 55, the discharge end of which terminates near the wall 55 of the drum 54.

Extending axially through the inlet pipe 84 to a point near the extreme lower convergent end of the conical bottom 88 is a discharge pipe 95, the upper end of which passes through a radial opening 96 (Fig. 4) in the wall of the intake pipe 34 above the cover 92, and attached to the radial extension 9'! of the pipe 95 is a nipple 98, the discharge end of which enters the drum 53 and terminates near the wall 55 thereof. The lower end of the intake pipe 84 terminates substantially midway between opposite ends of the settling tank and is provided with a flared portion 93,

- .while the lower end of the discharge pipe is slightly flared, as at I90. Fitted on the discharge pipe 05, immediately below thev flared portion 99 of the intake pipe 84, is a deflector, designated generally IOI, which comprises a pair of substantially conical members I02 having, at their bases, flanges I03 which are soldered or otherwise joined to effect a fluid-tight joint. As shown, the substantially conical members I02 are each providedwith axial openings I04 for the reception of the discharge pipe 95 to which the conical members are soldered or otherwise secured to form a fluid-tight junction with the pipeat these points. Extending axially from the extreme lower end of the bottom 88 is an externally screwthreaded nipple I05, upon which is threaded a cap I06 carrying an axially disposed nipple "II, the discharge end of which-is located adjacent the extreme lower end of the flared portion I of the pipe 95.: This nipple I0! is disposed axially with relation to the pipe 95, andconnected thereto is a feed pipe I08 which is connected through the medium of a valve I09 (Fig. 9) to the pipe 6| leading from the pump 8|. It will thus be seen that by manipulating the valve I09, a flow of fluid from the pump 8| may be established upwardly through the nipple I01 and into the discharge pipe 95, as suggested'by the dotted lines in Figure 5.

.In use, it will be understood that the solids to be separated are mixed with a liquid such as water and pumped thru the pipe 64 into the drum 5|, the fluid serving as the conveying means for the solids. Upon being discharged from the nipple 6t into the drum 5|, the water will be discharged through the foraminous wall of the drum into the trough 58, while the solids are discharged through the open end 56 of the drum 5| into the trough 60. The pump 8| containing a floatation liquid, such as brine, or a soapy substance, is then pumped by means of the pump 8| from the recovery tank 'I'! through the pipe 6| and into the bottom of the compartment 60 where it encounters the solids and carries them along into the feed trough 52 from whence they are dis--. charged through the opening 63 into the feed pipe 84 of the settling tank 85. The floatation liquid fills the complete system so that the settling tank is also completely filled. The deposit of the inflcwing liquid and the solids into the settling tank takes place well below the level of the liquid contained therein, and, in fact, in the largest body of liquid, so that the lighter particles of solids may float to the top of the tank 85 while the heavier solids sink to the bottom thereof. Due to the constant flow 'of liquid into the tank, and its constant discharge through the pipes 94 and 35, it will be obvious that the solids floating to the top of the tank will be discharged through the pipe 9 1, while those sinking to the bottom of the tank will be discharged through the pipe 95. The flow of the liquid and the solids through their repective discharge pipes causes the solids to be conducted through the nipples 95 and 96, respectively, to be discharged into the drums 53 and 55, where the solids are again separated from the; liquid, with the lighter solids being discharged through the open end 56 of the drum 54 into the discharge trough I0, while the heavier solidsar'e discharged from the discharge end 56 of the drum .53 into the discharge trough I I. The solids thus discharged are directed, through their respective spouts 72 and I3, into suitable receptacles. In the meantime, the floatation liquidreceived in the troughs! is discharged through the pipe M and nipple I6 into the lowermost drum52v which serves as a filter to permit the liquid to be discharged into the recovery tank TI, while any solid matter or waste is discharged through the openend 55 of the drum 16 into the. waste trough I8. The water flowing through the pipe I9 from the trough 58 and discharging into the waste trough I8 will serve to flush any waste from the trough, which may be disposed of in any suitable manner, as by directing it to the sewer.

In order to maintain a proper concentration of floatation fluid in the system, I employ a feed pipe III] (Fig. 9) leading from a suitable source of concentrated fluid and arranged to discharge it into the recovery tank II. In order automatically to control the concentration of the floatation liquid, I provide a lever-operated valve III (Fig. 9) actuated by a rod II2 carrying adjustable stops H3 and III. The lower end of the rod H2 is provided with a float II5 immersed in a tank I I5, into which thefloatation liquid from the system is introduced thru-the medium of a pipe I I! connected with the pipe 6| leading from the pump 8| to the trough 60. The float H5 is so constructed as accurately to measure the specific gravity of the fluid so that as the concentration of floatation substances therein becomes diminished, the float will rise to open the valve III and admit the concentrate to the recovery tank II, and when the proper concentration has been attained, the float will fall to close the valve I I and discontinue the further flow of concentrated fluid into the system. I also may find it advantageous to employ a photoelectric cell I I8 to govern the opening and closing of the valve III.

In the modifications illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, I have illustrated settling tanks designated, respectively, a and 8%, either one of which may be employed in lieu of the settlingtank 85 previously described. The tank 85a. comprises a circular, cylindrical body II9 provided with a conical cap I20 and a conical bottom I2I. The conical cap I20 terminates in a cap I22 corresponding, for all practical purposes, to the cap III previously described. This cap I22 is provided with a laterally extending discharge pipe I 23, and the bottom I2I is provided with an externally threaded nipple I24 corresponding, in all respects, to the nipple I05 previously referred to. Leading into the settling tank 85a through the top I25 of the cap I22 is an inlet pipe I26 which terminates at a point substantially midway be-. tween the upper and lower ends of the tank 85a and is provided at its inner terminal with a flared portion I 21, to the outer peripheral edge of which is connected an inverted frusto-conical member I28 terminating, at its outer peripheral edge, in a frusto-conical portion I 29 which slopes upwardly and joins the pipe I25 near the upper end of the cap I20. The structure just referred to forms a filler which reduces the volumetric contents of the settling tank so as to effect economies in the use of the system, and at the same time establish a more rapid upward flow of the liquid between thewalls I29 and I20. 7

v Extending axially through the intake pipe I25 is an axial discharge pipe I30 carrying, ,at its lower end, a flared portion I3I which terminates near the collar I24, and carried by the pipe I30 is a conical deflector I32, to the upper end of which is attached a conical wall I33 having anrnular rows. of periorations 1.3.4. A suitable fluid inl tpipe I35 passes; th o gh. the. coni al bottom I?! and discharges int. so that flui'd passing through the pipe I35 will be ...1e-.-co .1ica1 deflector" 1.3.2

discharged into the settling tank 85a near the area of its greatest capacity. An inwardly extending, V-shaped deflector I36 is supported on that the inlet pipe I36 is equipped with a deflector I31 of somewhat lesser size than the deflector defined by the walls I28 and I29, and the discharge pipe I38 is also equipped with a defiector I39 having a cylindrical side wall I40 containing rows of perforations I4I through which the floatation liquid is admitted into the interior of the tank in the manner previously described.

Obviously, the settling tanks 85a or 85b may be substituted in the system for the settling tank 85 without in any way altering the operation of the system except by the connection of the pipe I5 to the pipe 6|.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for separating solids according to their specific gravities, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical tank having upper and lower conical end portions, a feed tube extending downwardly through the upper conical end portion and including a lower outwardly and downwardly flared end terminating medially of the end portions of the tank, a cap carried by the upper conical end portion and embracing said feed tube, a first discharge tube extending laterally from said cap, an inclined cover for the cap sloping upwardly toward the first discharge tube-to constitute a baffle, a second discharge tube extending axially through the feed tube and including a radial extension at its upper end extending laterally through the feed tube, the lower end of said second discharge tube terminating adjacent and above the apex of said lower conical end portion, a deflector supported on said second discharge tube directly beneath the flared end of said feed tube, and an endless V-shaped deflector supported on the inner periphery of said tank and having its apex disposed in a horizontal plane between the flared end of said feed tube and the upper extremity of said first named deflector.

2. An apparatus for separating solids according to their specific gravities, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical tank having upper and lower conical end portions, a feed tube extending downwardly through the upper conical end portion and including a lower outwardly and downwardly flared end terminating medially of the end portions of the tank, a cap carried by the upper conical end portion and embracing said feed tube, a first discharge tube extendinglaterally from said cap, an inclined cover for the cap sloping upwardly toward the first discharge tube to constitute a bafiie, a second discharge tube extending axially through the feed tube and including a radial extension at its upper end extending laterall through the feed tube, the low- 8 er end of said second discharge tube terminating adjacent and above the apex of said lower conical end portion, a deflector supported on said second discharge tube directly beneath the flared end of said feed tube, and an inverted frustoconical member surrounding the feed tube and attached at its minor end to the flared end of.

said feed tube, a frusto-conical portion surrounding the feed tube above said frusto-conical member and having its major end attached to the major end'of said frusto-conical member, said conical portion sloping upwardly and joining the feed tube adjacent said cap;

3. An apparatus for separating solids according to their specific gravities, said apparatus comprising a cylindrical tank having upper and lower conical end portions, a feed tube extending downwardly throughthe upper conical end portion and including a lower outwardly and downwardly flared end terminating medially of the endportions of the tank, a cap carried by the upper conical end portion and embracing said feed tube, a first discharge tube extending laterally from said cap, an inclined cover for the cap sloping upwardly toward the first discharge tube'to constitute a bafile, a second discharge tube extending axially through the feed tube and including a radial extension at its upper end extending laterally through the feed tube, the lower end 01' said second discharge tube terminating adjacent and above the apex of said lower conical end portion, a deflector supported on said second discharge tube directly beneath the flared end. of said feed tube, and an inverted frustoconical member surrounding the feed tube and attached at its minor end to the flared end of said feed tube, a frusto-conical portion surrounding the feed tube above said frusto-conical memberand having its major end attached to the major end of said frusto-conical member, said conical portion sloping upwardly and joining the feed tube adjacent said cap, and an endless V- shaped deflector supported on the inner periphery of said tank and having its apex disposed in a horizontal plane between the flared end of said feed tube and the upper extremity of said first named deflector.

CLAUDE L. KEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,191 Wade Sept. 29, 1942 500,662 Lockhart July 4, 1893 1,169,292 Smith Jan. 25, 1916 1,456,165 Whitney May 22, 1923 1,721,423 Warren July 16, 1929 1,780,830 Lessing Nov. 4, 1930 1,911,013 Chapman May 23, 1933 1,963,671 Olney June 19, 1934 2,320,335 Bauer June 1, 19.43 2,356,648 Brusset Aug. 22, 1944 2,357,566 Walter Sept. 5, 1944 2,373,635 Wuensch Apr. 10, 1945 2,379,184 Rakowsky June 26, 1945 2,437,671 Anderson Mar. 16, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Great Britain of 1912 

